When I had the idea for a Flock Giveaway, I thought that we might get 5 or 6 applicants. Nothing in the world could have prepared me for the more than 60 essays we received! Or the overwhelming number of people who came to the website to vote for the finalists. The traffic was so crazy high that the whole website got really shaky and crashed a couple of times. It was madness!

The winner back then was Kristen Judkins, an absolutely lovely person who I am proud to now call a friend. Kristen has become a kick-ass shepherd in her own right and you can read all about her adventures on her blog, Gilead Goats.

Here we are in 2011, and I am once again feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for this amazing life I get to live and with the urge to pay some of that forward. To that end, Juniper Moon Farm is having another mighty big giveaway. We will be giving away TWO flocks of Cormo sheep and Angora Goats!

Here’s how it works: Anyone interested in entering this giveaway will need make a SHORT video- 3 minutes or less- telling me why you’d like to have a small flock of sheep. You can use your three minutes to show me around your property, introduce me to your family, whatever you want but mostly I want to hear why you’d like to be a shepherd. Have you always wanted sheep or goats of your own? Do you yearn to set up your spinning wheel in the pasture amongst the goats? Tell me all about it.

Once you’ve made your video and posted in on YouTube or Vimeo, email it’s link to susie AT fiberfarm DOT com with Flock Giveaway Video in the subject line. Please be sure that your video is “embed” -able, so that we can post it on the website. All videos must be received by midnight, January 23, 2011. Videos received afterwards will not be screened or considered. When the videos are ready to be posted here on the blog, we’ll let you know when the voting period will begin and end.

All videos will be screened by the Juniper Moon Farm staff. If I think you have the acreage, dedication and heart to care for these animals, I will post your video here on the blog. Then all of our readers will have the chance to vote of which essay they like best. Once y’all have narrowed the field to the top four, we might even invite the finalists to come to the farm for a weekend to get to know them better. I will personally select the winners.

UPDATE: Due to the fact that some people are unable to make and upload a video, we will be accepting short essays as well. Details here.

The fine print: You don’t need to be a shareholder to enter. You don’t necessarily need experience with fiber animals to enter- everyone has to start somewhere- but you do need to understand the work involved in raising livestock. Do a little research into raising sheep and goats.before entering. [Research doesn't mean emailing me and asking me how to raise sheep. There's a great big internet out there; google is your friend.] Once we have chosen a winner, he/she and I will work together to put together a small flock that makes sense for the winner’s level of expertise. Beginning farmers should probably start with five wethered males; a shepherd with a working knowledge of sheep might receive one or two ewes. We’ll figure out what works best together and won’t let you leave with more than I know you can handle. I will also be available by email and phone while you learn the ropes.

The final decision on the winners will be made by me and my decision is final and non-negotiable. I reserve the right to select no winners if I am not comfortable with any of the candidates or if it just doesn’t feel right. These animals are precious, sentient beings.I am responsible for them and I will never let them go to a new home that I am not completely comfortable with.

All videos become property of Juniper Moon Farm and can be used in promotion of the farm, the website or in any way we see fit.

If you know anyone who has shepherding dreams, please let them know about this giveaway. We want to cast the net as wide as possible, so your tweets, facebook postings and blog posting are much appreciated!

*It took ever ounce of strength I had not to call this giveaway “A Mighty Big Giveaway II; Electric Bugaloo”. Every. Single. Ounce.

Oh this is SO painful to sit out on, again!!! I have a 1847 farm and during the last giveway I was sitting and recuperating after a devastating injury, and barely managing my 2 dairy goats. This year I’m divorcing and losing the farm and animals….I am so jealous of all your entrants! I did forward this to my entire 4H goat club, though. Hopefully someone I know will enter!

A very generous giveaway-I raise cashmere goats and for the last 2 years have been getting into raising shetland sheep-last spring I learned to shear. It is hard work and yet so satisfying. I will say to potential shepherds-be prepared to get your hands dirty, work in all kinds of weather and become an expert fencer-you will be building new fences and repairing old fences on a regular basis. And you must have a willing partner. Banding wethers is a 2 person job. Anyway-good luck!

Once again, you are awe-inspiring. I would certainly be an entrant had we not downsized so severely, so alas, no entry from me this time; but I will certainly be watching from afar, admiring your generosity and the way you live your life. Thanks again.

Sigh… By the time I figure out how to embed a video… Sigh… Actually, I would love to enter, however, the first step is to convince my sister (she lives on 5 acres) WE need goats. (I think the angoras would be our only option in Florida, if that.) Reality is I will be BEGGING you to sell me some when I retire and have my OWN land. In the mean time, I so look forward to the entries, good luck all!!

This announcement makes me want to cry tears of both gratitude and regret. I can NOT begin to imagine how difficult it is for you to let go of your babies–it is a true act of kind selflessness to afford a most deserving person this fantastic oppportunity. Also, I am sick at the thought of not being able to enter a video for this great honor. In mind and spirit I am oh so ready to elevate my flagrant love affair with fiber by embarking on a shepherdess’ journey, but in body the timing is off as my husband and I do not reside at our 180 acre timber farm, 100 miles away from our home during the week. I’m still researching and racking my brain for a solution to my woes…maybe I should play the lottery this week???

Wow, how very awesome! I have been dreaming of owning a few pygora goats on my 1/5th acre suburban lot, and recently thinking that maybe a few sheep make more sense…but I’m no where near ready. Too bad!

I think it’s amazing that you are so very giving, and helpful and supportive! Thanks so much for all you do.

I wish, wish, wish I was able to do this. I asked my husband, trying to plead that we could tell the neighbors they are a new breed of dog… but he remains unconvinced. Ah well, I’ll have to live vicariously through the blog. I can’t wait to vote on the real applicants though!

I will have to show this to my partner – he knows I want a little nanny goat of my own, and perhaps telling him now a few sheep would be grand too would be good. As ever we’ll say the same thing we always do: property first. Sigh.

If I was still living in the US I’d happily enter and settle down on my mother’s little farm block with a flock…

I have 10 goats: 1 Nubian wether, 1 Saanen doe, 2 Angora does, 1 grandma pygora and her grandchildren: 3 wethers and 2 does. They live with three llamas and are looked over by Mishka, an Akbash livestock guardian. I sure wish I had the means to make a video.

Aww, I really wanna enter, but it would be irresponsible of me. All I have is a back yard that’s barely big enough for my doggies to run around in. I’ll be movng in a couple months, but it’ll probably be to a condo or apartment, so no luck there either. But mark my words… One day, I will have fuzzy sheepy friends!

hello everyone! I have the honor of transporting the 2011 herd to their new owner! Please feel free to look at my website and to contact me via email at rkeener@realtime.net about transporting your animals. I also would like comments about any concerns I should have about transporting these special animals!